Ulster SFC Final: Penalty drama as Derry take back to back titles

Derry their second provincial title in succession in the most dramatic of fashions as they beat Armagh in the first ever penalty shoot-out in Ulster final history.

A nip and tuck decider saw neither side able to pull away from the other and while penalties may be the most cruel way of settling a game, it was the only way possible.

Ciaran McFaul was the scoring hero as he hit the wining Derry sport kick, but it was goalkeeper Odhran Lynch who shone - saving three of Armagh's four efforts.

Derry eased in front through Shane McGuigan after playing keep ball for the opening three minutes. Armagh hadn't touched the ball in play as they camped in their own half before McGuigan curled over from right of centre.

Armagh could have equalised within a minute though, but Conor Turbitt stuck his free from the '45 wide of the right hand post.

But Rian O'Neil did level it up in the seventh minute when he slotted over a super free from well over 50 metres.

However, Derry struck for goal just two minutes later when a high effort from Niall Loughlin dropped well short, but Brendan Rogers got a touch to it to direct the ball into the net, despite the diving efforts of two Armagh defenders.

That was on nine minutes, with Jarly Og Burns making it 1-1 to 0-2 from an advanced mark seconds later. Greg McCabe then did likewise shortly after to bring his side to within a point.

Rogers from play and Grugan's free then cancelled each other out at the midway point of the half to retain Derry's narrow advantage, 1-2 to 0-4.

Rogers was the star of the show in the first period and he managed to create space for himself to cut inside onto his right foot to notch his third score on 22 minutes as Derry began to assert their authority.

Armagh rarely looked threatening as the half progressed, with McGuigan fisting over to edge Derry 1-4 to 0-4 in front. But O'Neill then looped one over off his left boot just short of the half hour mark.

Rory Grugan then capitalised on Derry goalkeeper Odhran Lynch's delaying tactics as he converted a close-range free and suddenly Armagh were back within the minimum.

Gareth McKinless and O'Neill then traded scores as the sides went in at the break, with Derry leading 1-5 to 0-7.

It took the Oak Leafers just 15 seconds after the restart to extend their lead as Loughlin fisted over from the left. But when Armagh registered their first score of the period - a driven effort from distance by Ciaran Mackin - that seemed to lift the crowd in orange.

However, Niall Toner quietened that noise with a 48th minute free to put Derry 1-7 to 0-8 ahead. Conor O'Neill though brought it back to a one-point game as Derry simply couldn't get clear of Armagh.

McGuigan scored his third of the match before Armagh sub Stefan Campbell then pulled it back yet again as we edged towards the midway stage of the half

Conor Glass drove over for Derry, but as was the norm, Armagh clawed another back as goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty did likewise off his left boot to make it 1-9 to 0-11 and keep the tie very much in the balance.

Shane McGuigan put Derry two ahead again, but with two minute of normal time remaining, O'Neill converted a '45 at the other end to leave the game still in the melting post as it entered five minutes of additional time.

Then with 4 of those additional minutes played, Rogers hauled down Burns as he headed for goal. The Derry man was black carded and O'Neill knocked over the resultant 13-metre free.

Armagh had the chance to win it with almost the last kick of normal time.

Rory Grugan collected an advanced mark around 40 metres out on the right hand side. There would be few players other than Grugan you'd want in that situation if you're an Armagh fan. But he dropped it short and Derry were eventually able to scramble it clear as Referee David Gough blew the final whistle to signal extra-time.

Just 30 seconds had elapsed of the first period of extra-time when Armagh took the lead for the very first time when substitute Ross McQuillan pointed from the right.

Then in stoppage time at the end of the first period. Derry tied matters at 1-11 to 0-14 courtesy of a McGuigan free, but there was still time for Armagh to regain the upper hand.

That came with the last action of the half when Burns surged forward and opted to fist over when he could have gone for goal.

Campbell put Armagh two to the good for the first time in the match four minutes into the second period, only for McGuigan to reply almost instantly at the other end.

Then less than three minutes later, Rafferty strode way out from his goal to get to within 40 metres to drive over and make it 0-17 to 1-12 to Armagh.

Niall Toner kicked a close-range free to level things for the umpteenth time and then McGuigan swept over a majestic 45-metre free to tie it heading towards two minutes of stoppage time.

Thirty seconds into that, Murray sent the Derry support into ecstasy as he fisted over to put Derry in front - BUT there was STILL time for more drama.

O'Neill coolly knocked over a last-gasp free to send it to penalties.

O'Neill, Aidan Nugent and Ethan Rafferty all saw their kicks superbly saved by Derry keeper Odhran Lynch, while Callum Cumiskey found the net.

For Derry, Shane McGuigan and Conor Glass both beat Rafferty with Paul Cassidy's effort saved. That allowed McFaul to slot home to secure another title.

MATCH STATS

DERRY: O Lynch; C McKaigue, E McEvoy, C McCluskey; C Doherty, G McKinless (0-1), P McGrogan; C Glass (0-1), B Rogers (1-2); B Heron, Paul Cassidy, E Doherty; N Toner (0-2, both frees), S McGuigan (0-6, 2f), N Loughlin (0-1)

Subs: C McFaul for Heron (47mins), L Murray (0-1) for Loughlin (61mins), Padraig Cassidy for Doherty (64mins), B Heron for Murray (71mins), Doherty for Cassidy (71mins), Murray for Heron (84mins)

ARMAGH: E Rafferty (0-2); C O'Neill (0-1), A McKay, A Forker; Ciaran Mackin (0-1, G McCabe (0-1, Mark), J Og Burns (0-2, 1 Mark); J Morgan, S McPartlan; J Duffy, B McCambridge, R Grugan (0-2, both frees); A Murnin, R O'Neill (0-5, 2f, 1'45), C Turbitt

Subs: A Nugent for S McPartlan (45mins), S Campbell (0-1) for Grugan (45mins), R McQuillan (0-1) for McCambridge (59mins), O Conaty for Murnin (64mins), R Grugan for Duffy (70mins), C Cumiskey for Forker (71mins), Connaire Mackin for Conor Mackin (77mins),

REFEREE: David Gough (Meath)